After reviewing project applications, the CoC’s funding priority list for the FY2018 Competition is complete. There were 3 applications for renewal projects and no applications for new projects. The priority list are on this website for your review. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Alexandria Schweiger, CoC Coordinator, at aschweiger@nsvregion.org.

What does it mean to be homeless?

According to HUD, an individual or family needs to fall in one of the four categories below to be meet its definition of "homeless". These are NOT eligibility criteria for assistance programs.

1) Individuals and families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; includes a subset for individuals who resided in an emergency shelter or a place not meant for human habitation and are exiting an institution where s/he temporarily resided.

2) Individuals and families who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence.

3) Unaccompanied youth who are defined as homeless under other federal statutes who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition.

4) Individuals and families who are fleeing, or are attempting to flee, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individuals or a family member.

There are individuals who do not meet the HUD definition of homeless, but still have an unstable housing situation. Perhaps they are sleeping on a friend's sofa, had a sudden change in finances and cannot pay rent next month, or live in a motel. These individuals might benefit from housing assistance. Please refer to Centralized Housing Intake to learn more.

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The Western Virginia Continuum of Care

The Western Virginia Continuum of Care (CoC) covers the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren, the towns within those counties, and the cities of Winchester and Harrisonburg. The official HUD-designated name of this CoC is VA-513.

The VA-513 identifies and implements strategies to prevent and end homelessness in the region.

This CoC promotes a Housing First approach, which means that priority is placed on getting someone into permanent housing as quickly as possible, and then supportive services, such as substance abuse treatment or mental health counseling, are offered as-needed.

PUBLIC NOTICE

A CoC is a collaborative funding and planning approach that helps communities provide prevention, emergency, transitional, and permanent housing, and other services to address homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that all communities establish a CoC. Participants can include nonprofit organizations, businesses, local and state government departments, schools, hospitals, community members, and many more. The primary goal of the CoC is to end homelessness.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has released the 2018 Continuum of Care competition.

This notice serves as a formal solicitation for new and renewal project applications to be considered for funding.

The CoC Program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; to provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, states, and local governments to quickly re-house homeless individuals, families, persons fleeing domestic violence, and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and to optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness.